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Frequently Asked Questions about Nutrition
and Diabetes
Source:
American
Diabetes Association
1. Why do I need to see a dietitian?
Registered dietitians (RDs) have training and expertise in
how the body uses food. RDs who understand diabetes can teach you how the food you eat
changes your blood glucose level and how to coordinate your diabetes
medications and eating. Do you know how many calories you should eat each day? How to cut down
on the fat in your meals? How to make eating time more interesting? An RD can help you
learn the answers to these, and lots of other questions. Your dietitian will work
with you to create a healthy eating plan that includes your favorite foods.
2. Can I eat foods with sugar in them?
For almost every person with diabetes, the answer is yes! Eating a
piece of cake made with sugar will raise your blood glucose level. So
will eating corn on the cob, a tomato sandwich, or lima beans. The
truth is that sugar has gotten a bad reputation. People with diabetes
can and do eat sugar. In your body, it becomes glucose, but so do the
other foods mentioned above. With sugary foods, the rule is moderation.
Eat too much, and 1) you'll send your blood glucose level up higher
than you expected; 2) you'll fill up but without the nutrients that
come with vegetables and grains; and 3) you'll gain weight. So, don't
pass up a slice of birthday cake. Instead, eat a little less bread or
potato, and replace it with the cake. Taking a brisk walk to burn some
calories is also always helpful.
3. Why does losing weight help my diabetes?
Weight loss helps people with diabetes in two important ways. First,
it lowers insulin resistance. This allows your natural insulin (in
people with type 2 diabetes) to do a better job lowering blood glucose
levels. If you take a diabetes medicine, losing weight lowers blood
glucose and may allow you to reduce the amount you're taking, or quit
taking it altogether. Second, it improves blood fat and blood pressure
levels. People with diabetes are about twice as likely to get
cardiovascular disease as most people. Lowering blood fats and blood
pressure is a way to reduce that risk.
4. How can I cut the fat in my diet?
Here are some beginning hints. See a dietitian for more advice.
Stir-fry foods in tiny amounts of oil and lots of seasonings. Choose
nonfat or low-fat selections, such as nonfat or 1% milk or low-fat
cheese. Keep portion sizes on target. Avoid fried foods -- bake, grill,
broil, or roast vegetables and meat instead.
5. Are some fats better than others?
Yes. Monounsaturated fats are the healthiest for your body. Nuts --
like almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and peanuts -- and avocados contain
this type of fat. Choose olive or canola oil for cooking.
Polyunsaturated fat is the next healthiest fat. This is found in corn
oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and mayonnaise. Use small amounts of
foods that contain saturated fats like butter, lard and meat fat,
bacon, and shortening. There are lower-fat versions of foods that
contain saturated fats, like sour cream and cream cheese. A healthy
diet includes less than 30% of calories from fat, with less than 10% of
these from saturated fat.
6. What foods can I eat a lot of?
Forget about eating with abandon. The key to healthy living is
moderation. Air-popped popcorn may be low in fat, but it still has
calories. And calories count. If you can control the portion sizes of
the food you eat, you will be able to eat a wider variety of foods,
including your favorites, and still keep your blood sugar in your
target range.
7. What can I do if I overeat over the holidays?
Put on your walking shoes and head for the pavement. Being more
active helps lower your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Physical activity uses up extra sugar in your blood and helps your
insulin work better.
8. Can I use low calorie sweeteners?
Low calorie sweeteners are safe for everyone except people with
phenylketonuria, who should not use aspartame. Calorie-free sweeteners
like aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and acesulfame-K won't increase
your blood glucose level. The sugar alcohols -- xylitol, mannitol, and
sorbitol -- have some calories and do slightly increase your blood
glucose level. Eating too much of any of these can cause gas and
diarrhea.
9. How much weight should I lose each week?
Limiting your weight loss to 1/2 to 1 pound a week will keep you
healthy, and let you enjoy the foods you love in small amounts. A slow
steady weight loss is the key to keeping lost weight off.
10. Can I drink alcohol?
Yes, in moderation. Moderation is defined as two drinks a day for
men and one drink a day for women. A drink is a 5-ounce glass of wine,
a 12-ounce light beer, or 1-1/2 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Make sure that your medications don't require avoiding alcohol, and get
your doctor's okay.
11. Isn't glucose control easier if I eat the same things every day?
Probably, but this method of blood glucose control isn't very
nutritious, not to mention boring. One of the keys to nutrition is
eating a variety of foods each day. By checking your blood glucose two
hours after starting to eat a meal, you can learn how different foods
affect you. Over time, you will be able to predict how foods, and
combinations of foods, affect your blood glucose level.
12. What vitamins will help my diabetes?
If you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it could be causing
problems with your glucose control. For instance, one study found that
taking the trace element chromium improved glucose control in subjects
who had a chromium deficiency. More studies need to be done. If you
choose a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat each day, and
keep your blood sugar close to your target range, you probably don't
need to take vitamin supplements because of diabetes.
13. Are there herbs that will help my diabetes?
Many herbs supposedly have glucose-lowering effects, but there are
not enough data on any herb to recommend it for use in people with
diabetes. Herbs are not considered food by the Food and Drug
Administration and are not tested for quality or content. Therefore,
products can be promoted as helping health conditions without having to
show evidence of this. Discuss the herbal dietary supplements with your
doctor or dietitian before trying them. They may interact poorly with
your diabetes medication.
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